oking like you

voice snapped me

- my strong, proud father - was standing there, visibly shaking. And b

king. "Or have you suddenly lost yo

t.I moved towards my father, heart racing, but his secretary stepped in my w

His hands trembled at his sides

yet," my husband said casually, l

o my father. "Si

age mates, so I'll respect you." The insult

I gripped the fabric of my skirt ti

the room. "A large sum of money was withdrawn from

e, his eyes sh

ou

caught in

the only reason you're still alive... is because I don't know how

you haven't received y

arly gave w

ooking from me to my father, "both of

realized just how powerless I really was. I hated him. God, I hated

secretary, gesturing at my da

y blocked me again, his grip iron-tight as he dragged

ars ran down my cheeks as I clutched my st

r before I get there," h

o my feet and ran. I knew wha

om and collapsed on the bed. My body ached with

phone and tex

hope you

ke hours. Then

ake care of yours

could soothe me, like it could somehow

s me. Relax," Richard said, stepping

elieved....

d. "What happened? You loo

llowe

eatened him," I said, m

my dad. Right i

ded, replaced by a

t w

was missing.

own for a moment

rged his signature and took the money. I

. "We need to sta

ightly open. I didn't know i

ntly, leaning in for a

ought hit

alks in on us?" I b

to sleep. You know - like yesterday."I

softly. "Don't let this eat you up. I

calm, strong

ceiling, a new fear s

ted my head against his chest, his steady heartbeat giving me something solid to ho

hone

felt the shift in his body - sub

ression change. The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a stran

t answer right away. Just stared at the screen like

hone and slipped it

said, but his voice ha

sed, frowning. "W

e. "Just some random m

out the way he looked after reading that message sent chills down my

" I asked, my

d. "Don't worry about it, okay?

nd while a part of me was grateful, another part couldn't shake

athing was no longer steady.He lay beside me, pulling m

read... it h

could protect me from what was coming -

ng to rest, but my min

ing wa

ld feel i

dy entered the room.I kept my e

had already wrapped its fingers around me.

held me just a little too tightly, the way his breaths were

e was waiting - probably

nder me and sat up on the edge of the bed.I barely cracked

ment. Then he got up and walked a little distance awa

u mean my r

art f

par

He pulled the phone away from his ear

Nothing.Confus

again.

something under his breath, and th

aid to himself, more

My mind was spinning too fas

par

id tha

I quickly closed my eye aga

e me, and let out a sigh so deep it sounded like it came from

htly against my arm, but thi

aced with

t that

hey trying

chard wasn't who he thought he was eith

arms of a man I loved... and sudde